Fill last days of summer with excursions

A boy smiles as he approaches a frog at the Emerald Coast Science Center.

Daily News File Photo

By LAUREN DELGADO / Daily News

Published: Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 10:35 AM.

Even though summer is winding down, it’s not quite time for school to start back up.

After a summer of fun, inspiration for activities your kiddos will love may be waning a bit. That’s where our list comes in. These "field trip" ideas will entertain everyone from a budding historian to a tinkering inventor.

Historical

Indian Temple Mound Museum

What: This museum houses exhibits and artifacts on Native Americans, European settlers, local pirates, and settlers.Where:139 Miracle Strip Parkway S.E. in Fort Walton Beach.Hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. until September.Cost: Adults (18+): $5.30; Seniors (55+): $4.77; Military (w/ID): $4.77; Children (4-17): $3.18.Website: http://fwb.org/museums/indian-temple-mound-museum/Tip: Several Civil War exhibits as well as other historic buildings, like the Garnier Post Office Museum and Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum are on the same property as the Mound Museum. Their operating hours are different: Mondays through Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

Pensacola Children's Museum

What: A museum on the history of Pensacola for children (and adults!)Where:115 East Zaragoza St. in PensacolaHours: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Cost: $3 per person over 1 year old.Website: www.historicpensacola.org

West Florida Railroad Museum

What: Several rail car displays and railroad memorabilia sit at the site of the L&N Milton combination freight and passenger depot built in 1907-09.Where: 5003 Henry St. in PensacolaHours: Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Friday and Saturday, or by appointment for toursCost: Donations are encouraged.Website: www.wfrm.org/

Military

Air Force Armament Museum

What: A collection of weaponry and interactive displays inside, a large collection of military aircraft displays.Where: 100 Museum Drive, Eglin Air Force Base.Hours: Mondays through Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Cost: FreeWebsite: https://www.afarmamentmuseum.com/

National Naval Aviation Museum

What: The world's largest Naval Aviation museum.Heads-up: Visitors 16 years and older must have valid ID to enter the air station. Backpacks and similar items are not allowed inside the museum (except for small diaper bags, purses, camera bags, fanny packs and medicine bags).Where: 1750 Radford Boulevard, Naval Air Station, Pensacola.Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Cost: FreeWebsite: www.navalaviationmuseum.orgTips: Free guided tours are available at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. (meet at the Information Desk). A 20-minute free flight line trolley tour is available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. (get your ticket at the Information Desk). A self-guided tour pamphlet is available at the museum’s website. There’s also a Museum Mobile App for those who want to tour on their own.

S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

Emerald Coast Science Center

What: Interactive displays on biology, physics, earth science, and technology.Where: 139 Brooks St. S.E. in Fort Walton Beach.Hours: Mondays through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (last admission sold an hour before closing).Cost: Children 3 and up: $3.75; Adult: $5.75; Seniors: $4.75; Children 2 and under: Free.Website: www.ecscience.orgTip: Why not make a day of it? The science center is in downtown Fort Walton Beach — near shops, restaurants and the park.

Pensacola MESS Hall

What: A hands on science museum that lets kids experiment in Math, Engineering, Science and Stuff (MESS).Where:116 N. Tarragona St. in PensacolaHours: Summer hours: Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Cost: $8 for adults and children 3 and up. $1 off admission for active-duty military and their dependents (spouse and children).Website: www.pensacolamesshall.org

Nature

E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center

What: An environmental education facility.Where: 4956 State Highway 20 E. in Freeport.Hours: Open to the general public only on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Cost: Adults: $8; Children: $5; Anyone 2 years old and under: Free.Website: www.eowilsoncenter.orgTip: The center plans a special program on the day it opens to the public. Check out their website or Facebook page for more info.

Florida Caverns

What: Air-filled, above ground caves.Where: This one is a bit of a drive: 3345 Caverns Road in Marianna.Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cave tours are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.Cost: Entrance fee: $5 for a vehicle with 2-8 occupants. Cave Tour: Adult (13+): $8; Children (3-12): $5.Website: www.floridastateparks.org/floridacavernsTips: Tours are first come, first serve. Call 850-482-1228 to make sure tours have not sold out during the day. The tours is 35-40 minutes long and is moderately strenuous.

What: A sanctuary for displaced wolves. People over the age of 8 can take a tour that involves hands-on interaction with the wolves.Heads up: No one under the age of 8 is allowed in the wolf preserve, but they can experience the Small Animals Encounter.Where: 3449 Bonnet Pond in Chipley.Times: Open to the general public Saturdays only. Gates open at 11 a.m., tour begins at 1 p.m.Cost: Wolf Tour/Small Animal Encounter- Ages 12 and up: $25; Ages 8-11: $15. Small Animals Encounter- Ages 12 and up: $8; Under 12: $5.Website: www.seacrestwolfpreserve.orgTips: Arrive at least 1 hour before the tour to register. No shorts, sandals, flip flops, open-toed shoes, tank tops or excessive jewelry.

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Even though summer is winding down, it’s not quite time for school to start back up.

After a summer of fun, inspiration for activities your kiddos will love may be waning a bit. That’s where our list comes in. These "field trip" ideas will entertain everyone from a budding historian to a tinkering inventor.

Historical

Indian Temple Mound Museum

What: This museum houses exhibits and artifacts on Native Americans, European settlers, local pirates, and settlers.Where:139 Miracle Strip Parkway S.E. in Fort Walton Beach.Hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. until September.Cost: Adults (18+): $5.30; Seniors (55+): $4.77; Military (w/ID): $4.77; Children (4-17): $3.18.Website: http://fwb.org/museums/indian-temple-mound-museum/Tip: Several Civil War exhibits as well as other historic buildings, like the Garnier Post Office Museum and Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum are on the same property as the Mound Museum. Their operating hours are different: Mondays through Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

Pensacola Children's Museum

What: A museum on the history of Pensacola for children (and adults!)Where:115 East Zaragoza St. in PensacolaHours: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Cost: $3 per person over 1 year old.Website: www.historicpensacola.org

West Florida Railroad Museum

What: Several rail car displays and railroad memorabilia sit at the site of the L&N Milton combination freight and passenger depot built in 1907-09.Where: 5003 Henry St. in PensacolaHours: Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Friday and Saturday, or by appointment for toursCost: Donations are encouraged.Website: www.wfrm.org/

Military

Air Force Armament Museum

What: A collection of weaponry and interactive displays inside, a large collection of military aircraft displays.Where: 100 Museum Drive, Eglin Air Force Base.Hours: Mondays through Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Cost: FreeWebsite: https://www.afarmamentmuseum.com/

National Naval Aviation Museum

What: The world's largest Naval Aviation museum.Heads-up: Visitors 16 years and older must have valid ID to enter the air station. Backpacks and similar items are not allowed inside the museum (except for small diaper bags, purses, camera bags, fanny packs and medicine bags).Where: 1750 Radford Boulevard, Naval Air Station, Pensacola.Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Cost: FreeWebsite: www.navalaviationmuseum.orgTips: Free guided tours are available at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. (meet at the Information Desk). A 20-minute free flight line trolley tour is available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. (get your ticket at the Information Desk). A self-guided tour pamphlet is available at the museum’s website. There’s also a Museum Mobile App for those who want to tour on their own.

S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

Emerald Coast Science Center

What: Interactive displays on biology, physics, earth science, and technology.Where: 139 Brooks St. S.E. in Fort Walton Beach.Hours: Mondays through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (last admission sold an hour before closing).Cost: Children 3 and up: $3.75; Adult: $5.75; Seniors: $4.75; Children 2 and under: Free.Website: www.ecscience.orgTip: Why not make a day of it? The science center is in downtown Fort Walton Beach — near shops, restaurants and the park.

Pensacola MESS Hall

What: A hands on science museum that lets kids experiment in Math, Engineering, Science and Stuff (MESS).Where:116 N. Tarragona St. in PensacolaHours: Summer hours: Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Cost: $8 for adults and children 3 and up. $1 off admission for active-duty military and their dependents (spouse and children).Website: www.pensacolamesshall.org

Nature

E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center

What: An environmental education facility.Where: 4956 State Highway 20 E. in Freeport.Hours: Open to the general public only on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Cost: Adults: $8; Children: $5; Anyone 2 years old and under: Free.Website: www.eowilsoncenter.orgTip: The center plans a special program on the day it opens to the public. Check out their website or Facebook page for more info.

Florida Caverns

What: Air-filled, above ground caves.Where: This one is a bit of a drive: 3345 Caverns Road in Marianna.Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cave tours are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.Cost: Entrance fee: $5 for a vehicle with 2-8 occupants. Cave Tour: Adult (13+): $8; Children (3-12): $5.Website: www.floridastateparks.org/floridacavernsTips: Tours are first come, first serve. Call 850-482-1228 to make sure tours have not sold out during the day. The tours is 35-40 minutes long and is moderately strenuous.

What: A sanctuary for displaced wolves. People over the age of 8 can take a tour that involves hands-on interaction with the wolves.Heads up: No one under the age of 8 is allowed in the wolf preserve, but they can experience the Small Animals Encounter.Where: 3449 Bonnet Pond in Chipley.Times: Open to the general public Saturdays only. Gates open at 11 a.m., tour begins at 1 p.m.Cost: Wolf Tour/Small Animal Encounter- Ages 12 and up: $25; Ages 8-11: $15. Small Animals Encounter- Ages 12 and up: $8; Under 12: $5.Website: www.seacrestwolfpreserve.orgTips: Arrive at least 1 hour before the tour to register. No shorts, sandals, flip flops, open-toed shoes, tank tops or excessive jewelry.